Focal Dystonia

Definition

Focal dystonia is an irregular movement disorder specific to one part of the body. In dystonia, muscle contractions cause irregular movements, twitches, tics, and twisted or repetitive postures. These may be continuous or off and on.
The most common types of focal dystonia are:

Blepharospasm—an eye twitch

Cervical dystonia or spasmodic torticollis—affecting the neck

Segmental cranial dystonia, also known as Meige syndrome—affecting the jaw, tongue and eyes

Oromandibular dystonia—affecting the jaw

Spasmodic dysphonia—affecting the vocal cords

Axial dystonia—affecting the trunk

Dystonia of the hand/arm, such as writer's cramp

Causes

In many cases, the cause of primary dystonia is not known. In others, it may be genetic.

Secondary dystonia is caused by an existing health condition, injury, or genetic disorder. Some of these include:

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done.
This may include a complete neurologic exam and an eye exam.
You may be referred to a speech-language pathologist, physical or occupational therapists, and/or genetic counselors.

Treatment

Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Options include:

Medications

Your doctor may recommend one or more of the following to help ease symptoms:

Over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers

Anticholinergics

Benzodiazepines

Dopaminergic agents

Dopamine-depleting agents

Anticonvulsants

Botulinum Toxin Injections

Injecting
botulinum toxin directly into the muscles affected by dystonia can weaken the muscle. This may help improve symptoms for 3-4 months.

Surgery

Surgery to cut the nerves leading to muscles affected by dystonia or removing the muscles may help reduce muscle contractions. In addition, surgery to destroy the small area within the brain that dystonia occurs from may stop or reduce the disorder. Some success has been reported using surgically implanted deep brain stimulation to reduce symptoms of dystonia.

Prevention

There are no current guidelines to prevent focal dystonia. If you take any medications that may cause dystonia, talk with your doctor about your risk of developing dystonia as a side effect.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

What is dystonia? Dystonia Medical Research Foundation website. Available at:
https://www.dystonia-foundation.org/what-is-dystonia. Accessed July 11, 2013.

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